East Africa

Prosecutors have asked the Harare Regional Magistrates Court to compel prominent pastor Walter Magaya to enter a plea in a rape case, saying repeated pre‑trial motions have stalled the prosecution and risked harming witnesses and alleged victims. In papers filed at the court, the State described a series of what it called “frivolous and vexatious” applications lodged by Magaya’s defence that, prosecutors argue, were intended to frustrate the prosecution despite what they say is a prima facie case. The filings ask the…

In Mogadishu’s tightening political season, former President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, known as Farmaajo, has reemerged with a packed schedule: meetings with supporters, quiet conversations with media figures and political brokers, and visible outreach to segments of the opposition. His renewed profile is unmistakable. But it also reveals a telling split-screen in Somalia’s politics ahead of a potential 2026 presidential contest: the energy of a comeback bid versus the structural headwinds of coalition math, federal…

Djibouti (AX) — The presidents of Djibouti and Somalia and the prime minister of Ethiopia met Wednesday in Djibouti City for a high-level trilateral summit, underscoring a push for tighter regional security coordination, deeper economic integration and united diplomacy across the Horn of Africa. Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh hosted Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for talks at his private residence in Haramuus during an iftar dinner. Officials said the leaders reviewed…

Six years after Cyclone Idai tore through central Mozambique, the port city of Beira still carries the imprint of that storm in both brick and belief. Cyclone Idai in 2019 killed more than 500 people in Mozambique and left thousands more homeless; in the past decade alone, 10 cyclones have claimed more than a thousand lives across the country. For many residents, the memory of Idai is not only a ledger of loss but a constant lens through which the next weather warning is viewed. Reporting by Sean Christie for the Bhekisisa…

Kenya floods kill at least 49; Nairobi among hardest hit as Ruto orders multi-agency response Wednesday, March 11, 2026 NAIROBI, Kenya — At least 49 people have died and 2,624 families have been displaced after days of heavy rains triggered flooding across several parts of Kenya, with Nairobi among the hardest hit areas, authorities said Wednesday. The National Police Service (NPS) said officers are working alongside multi-agency emergency teams to carry out search and rescue operations, evacuate residents from high-risk…

DJIBOUTI — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Djibouti on Wednesday for talks with President Ismail Omar Guelleh, a visit framed by rising tensions across the Horn of Africa and the wider Middle East and coming as the United States warns of heightened security risks in the region. Villa Somalia said the trip reflects the longstanding ties between the two neighbors and a shared vision for regional cooperation, solidarity and stability. The two leaders are expected to hold discussions aimed at reinforcing…

Somali army seizes Hawaadley hideout in Middle Shabelle as new offensive targets Al Shabab Somalia’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday the national army has taken control of Hawaadley in the Middle Shabelle region, describing the area as a long-used hideout for the Al-Qaeda-linked Al Shabab. The advance is part of a newly launched push under Operation Badr to dismantle the group’s “safe havens.” The ministry said troops are conducting clearance operations to secure recently captured zones, pursuing remaining fighters and…

U.S. Embassy in Djibouti issues security alert amid regional threats, curbs routine services DJIBOUTI (AX) — The U.S. Embassy in Djibouti on Tuesday issued a security alert urging American citizens to exercise increased caution as regional tensions rise and public threats target U.S. interests. The mission said it continues to advise its personnel to avoid the area surrounding the U.S. Embassy and Camp Lemonnier, the U.S. military installation adjacent to the airport. “There is no higher priority than the safety and security…

NAIROBI, Kenya — The death toll from torrential rains and flash floods that ripped through Nairobi and other parts of Kenya has nearly doubled to 42, the government said late Sunday, as military-led teams combed submerged neighborhoods and riverbanks for the missing. Intense downpours on Friday swamped roads, swept away vehicles and inundated homes and workshops in low-lying districts, including the Grogan area of downtown Nairobi, a hub for auto garages and spare parts traders. Floodwaters also disrupted traffic at the…

Iran and Israel long fought in the shadows — through intelligence operations, cyberattacks, covert sabotage and proxy warfare — calibrating pressure without crossing into direct war. That balance is faltering. The shadow conflict is tilting toward open confrontation, reshaping the Middle East’s security architecture and rippling through energy markets, shipping lanes and fragile regional politics from the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa. For decades, Tehran relied on partners such as Hezbollah in…